Hollywood online game voice and movement seize actors signed a brand new contract with online game studios on Wednesday with a deal with synthetic intelligence protections, the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, stated in a press launch, ending a close to year-long strike.
“AI was the centerpiece of our proposal package deal,” online game voice actor and member of the negotiation committee Sarah Elmaleh advised Reuters after the brand new settlement handed.
Elmaleh, a voice actor for fashionable titles like Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, stated she knew it was essential to make sure there was a baseline for methods to ethically use AI within the gaming trade.
The new protections embrace consent and disclosure necessities for AI digital reproduction use and the flexibility for performers to droop consent for the technology of recent materials throughout a strike.
“This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated within the guild’s assertion.
The deal applies to online game studios Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games.
“On behalf of the video game producers that are party to the agreement, we are pleased that SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a new Interactive Media Agreement, which delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading A.I. protections, and enhanced health and safety measures for performers,” Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the online game studios, stated within the press launch.
The new Interactive Media Agreement, which matches into impact instantly, was authorised by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of 95.04 p.c to 4.96 p.c, ratifying the deal and ending the online game strike, which had been suspended pending ratification.
The new contract additionally gives extra performer security measures, which was a selected concern for movement seize online game performers.
“There are folks who not only give their voices to these characters, but their bodies, and they put their bodies on the line for these characters,” Elmaleh stated.
Motion seize actors can have medics obtainable throughout high-risk jobs.
The deal additionally gives compounded will increase in performer pay at a fee of 15.17 p.c upon ratification plus extra 3 p.c will increase in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027.
The work stoppage of online game voice actors and motion-capture performers began following failed contract negotiations targeted round AI-related protections for staff, bringing about one other work stoppage in Hollywood following the twin writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023.
The strike introduced a bigger name to motion throughout Hollywood as folks within the trade advocate for a legislation that may shield them from AI dangers.
The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan invoice in Congress which might make it unlawful to make an AI reproduction of somebody’s likeness and voice with out their permission, has gained help from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy and Disney.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
